Device for pulling on shoes.



Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

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RS CO. PHbTO-Ll'rh WASHINLJON u 1 UNITED STATES FATE BIA, CANADA.

DEVICE FOR PULLING ON SHOES.

Application filed April 29, 1914. Serial No. 835,212.

To alt whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, JOHN GARMICHAEL and RALPH l/VHIPPS, both subjectsof the King of Great Britain, and both residents of the city of NorthVancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Pulling on Shoes, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in devices for pulling on shoes,and the object of our invention is to devise a simple and inexpensivemeans whereby the shoe can be easily pulled on to the foot withoutbending the body, thereby overcoming the disadvantages pertaining to theaction of putting on shoes at the present time, necessitating bending,which, while of no great trouble to a person in normal condition, is asource of considerable discomfort and inconvenience to persons inclinedto corpulency or those in a frail state of health. Our device, while ofgreat convenience to all persons, is specially beneficial to corpulentpersons, invalids, and those to whom bending is a source of discomfortand inconvenience. lVe attain this object by the means illus trated inthe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourdevice, shown in open position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showingour device in a closed position. Fig. 3 is a view showing the practicalapplication of our device.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

.1 represents one of the gripping members of our device, on the insideface of which and in proximity to the lower end thereof is secured apiece of serrated rubber 2 or other suitable gripping material, as shownmore particularly in Fig. 1.

3 represents the other gripping member of our device, the lower end ofwhich is folded backwardly on an inclined plane so that the point willlie along the outer face of the member, thus forming a substantiallywedge-shaped portion 1 on the lower end of the member 3 and on theoutside thereof.

5 isa piece of rubber or other gripping material secured on the insideface, of the member 3 as shown in Fig. 1, which rubber 5 is designed toco-act with the rubber 2 on the member 1 when the device is in theclosed position, as shown more particularly inFig.2. W H H 6 is abridging member, formed integrally with the member-1 andadapted tostraddle the member 3 to act as a guide for the wedge shaped portion 4and also to allow the members 1 and 3 to separate sufliciently whileatthe same time holding them together, at their lower extremities,alluas shown in Fig. 1.

7 is the handle of our device, formed of suitable shape, such asshown'in Fig. 1, which handle is disposed between the members 1 and 3 atthe upper extremities thereof and secured thereto by the pins 8 and 9.These pins 8 and 9 are free to swivel in their respective members 1 and3, and are secured into the handle 7 in eccentric position with relationto each other, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

Having thus indicated the principal parts of our invention we will nowdescribet-he manner in which it is used. Referring now particularly toFig. 2, in which our device is shown closed, the opening is effected byturning the handle 7; down, this action causing the member 3 to movedownwardly and NT OFFICE.

JOHN CABMIGI-IAEL AND RALPH wnrrPs, or uon'rn vaivoouvnn, BRITISH ooLUM-Specification of Letters Patent. PatentdNov, 10, 1914,

allowing the gripping points of the members 1 and 3 to become separated,all as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The top edge of the shoe is now placedbetween the gripping points, after which the handle 7 is straight- Iened up, thus drawing the member 3 up wardly, the wedge portion 4 thencoming into action against the bridging member 6 to force the points ofthe members 1 and 3 together to clamp the shoe firmly between the rubberportions 2 and 5 respectively.

The foot may then be inserted, and the shoe pulled on bynieans of thedevice without the necessity of bending the body. In putting on slippersor low shoes, one such device may be used; for boots it is preferable touse two devices, one on each side, the manner of use being clearly shownin Fig. 3.

It will be seen, therefore, that we have devised a simple, inexpensive,and efiicient means whereby shoes may be pulled on to the feet withoutthe necessity of bending the body to do so, the use of which provides agreat convenience for all persons and which is specially beneficial for'corpulent persons,

invalids, and those to whom bending is a particular source ofinconvenience and distress.

Vhat We claim as our invention is:

1. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a pairofoppositely disposed gripping members the lower inner portions of whichare faced with suitable gripping material, a wedge member carried by oneof said gripping members, a bridging member carried by the othergripping memher and straddling the said wedge member, and a suitablehandle having said gripping members pivoted thereto at difi erentpositions thereon whereby pivotal movement of said handle separates orbrings together the -gripping members to open or close the de- Vice.

2. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, a pairof rod members having then lower lnner points formed as opposing grippng po-rtlons, the lower end of one rod belng extended beyond itsgripping portion and doubled back to form a wedge portion, a bridgingmember carried by the other rod member and straddling the said Wedgeportion, and a suitable handle disposed between the upper ends of thesaid rod members and to which the said members are pivotally connectedat different points thereon whereby pivotal downward and upward movementof the said handle moves the one rod longitudinally of the other toseparate the said gripping portions or so that the said wedge portionmay be engaged by the said bridging member to force the grippingportions together, as and for the purpose specified.

Dated at Vancouver, B. (1., this fifteenth day of April, A. 1)., 1914-.

JOHN CARMIGHAEL. RALPH WHIPPS.

Witnesses JAMES TAYLOR, CECIL E. New.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, G.

